Herman principal, boxing coach, found guilty of assault

A former boxer, long-time coach and current principal of Herman Secondary School was found guilty last month of assaulting his former wife and protegé – herself a four-time world boxing champion.

Ontario Court Justice Micheline Rawlins sentenced James (Josh) Canty to 12 months probation following a one-day trial on Feb. 7, according to court records obtained by The Star. He will appeal the decision.

Canty has been a well-regarded principal at Herman for two years and continues to coach a couple prominent local boxers at the Border City Boxing Club – which he helped launch nearly 25 years ago and was its first Canadian champion.

He was charged following a March 25, 2012 altercation with Margaret Canty. The incident was said to have occurred at the matrimonial home during a visitation exchange with the couple’s children.

No punches were said to have been exchanged during the incident.

Josh Canty did not return a message left at Herman by The Star.

He recently retained local lawyer Frank Miller, who said on Friday he will appeal and believes there is a strong chance to see the decision overturned.

The altercation was triggered by a voice recorder that was revealed by Margaret Canty during the exchange, according to several sources. Josh Canty took the recorder from her, then shoving and wrestling for the device followed with Mr. Canty eventually leaving with the recorder, Miller said.

By providing resistance to the recovery of the recorder and failing to return it, the criminal code indicates Canty can be found guilty in court of assault, the lawyer said.

Miller believes it’s a “wrongful conviction” under the law and will be appealing the decision to Superior Court. He expects it will take a few months to be heard in court.

Margaret Canty (formerly Sidoroff) rose to such great prominence during her boxing career, with her husband as coach, that she was elected into the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.

She captured the Canadian Amateur Gold Medal at the 1998 national championships, then went on to capture an Intercontinental Professional Title and three professional world titles before deciding to retire in 2000 and become a coach herself at the Border City Club.

She is currently employed as a student success teacher at Western Secondary School.

Margaret Canty when contacted was concerned about her former husband’s situation becoming public.

“He is a good father, that’s all that matters right now,” she said.

A superintendent with the Greater Essex County District School Board – the employer for both – said the matter is under investigation as dictated by board policy following Canty’s guilty verdict in court.

Both Cantys were on the job on this past week.

“I can’t speak about individual employees since it’s a personnel issue,” said Paul Antaya, superintendent of education for the pubic board.

“But our board policy calls for conducting our own investigation that is to include the public records. Our conclusions in these situations are based on an employee’s ability to continue in their jobs, whether any actions are needed for the safety of students or whether delivery of programs for our students has been affected.”

Antaya would not indicate when the board investigation might be concluded or decisions made – if any – regarding the status of Canty.

Antaya did talk respectfully about the job done by Canty at Herman since taking over as principal.

“Mr. Canty has done a wonderful job at Herman during the time he has been there,” he said. “He is an outstanding principal and leader of program in terms of looking after the needs of our kids.”